Filing device



3 1 May 927 R. M. SMITH FILING DEVICE Filgd Aug. 16. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

May

1 626.884 R. M.. SMITH FILING DEVICE Filed Aug. 16. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 3, 1927.

UNITED STATES:

BITTENHQUSE M. SMITH, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA.

FILING DEVICE.

Application filed August 16, 1920. Serial No. 403,906.

The present application which in part is a continuation of my application Serial No. 369,829, filed March 29, 1920, relates to card filing devices.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a device of the aforesaid type for filing cards in accordance with two kinds of data, which employs only a fraction of the space required in. prior systems.

To this end the device comprises two series of index characters disposed at right angles to each other, means to support a card to be filed parallel to one series and opposite a character of the other series, the capacity of the device in the direction of the first series being several times greater than the width in this direction divded by the length of a card.

More specifically the invention comprises a container having two series of index characters disposed at right angles to each other and a series of cards each having an indictator at its upper edge. The cards are fileo in the container parallel to one series of characters and opposite a character of the other series. The characters of the first series are spaced so that there are several characters in a distance equal to the length of a card and means is provided for positioning the cards parallel to the series of characters with their indicators in line with a selected character of said series. For this purpose the cards and container may be formed with interengaging tongues and grooves The width of the container in the direc tion of the last mentioned series of characters may be equal to the length of the series plus the length of one card. Thus, if there are ten characters in the length of one card, and the series is thirty characters long, then the width of the container will be equal to the length of four cards, and although the width is only four cards it will be seen that thirty cards may be filed and spaced in this length.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a movable index slidable along one series of indexpharacters.

Another feature of the invention resides in the novel form of filing card employed.

Other features of novelty and objects of the invention will be apparent from "thedescription taken in connection with the drawinns in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a filing device constructed in accordance with the present 1nvention;

lugure 2 1s a partlal sectional elevation taken substantially on the l1ne22 of Fig ure 1;

Figure?) 1s a fragmentary perspective View of a port on of the container;

Figure 4 1s a partial sectional view through one s1de of the container showing the means for carrymg one series of index characters and also showing the slid'able index; i

i l 1 v a n flgu e o is a perspectlve new of the slidable index;

Figure ,6 shows a modified form of filing card;

Ilgure 7 1s a sectional view taken substantlally on the line 7"? of Figures 2 or 6; and

F1gure 8 1s a fragmentary perspective view of one of the partit ons.

' Referring to the drawings it will be seen that the filing device is shown as compris- 1ng a rectangular container or shell consisting of the four side members 15, 16, 17 and 18, the upper sideof this shell beingopen. Preferably, the lower side of the shell is closed as by 'a backing 19, although this backing is not absolutely necessary. Spaced from the backing and the lower edges of the side pieces of the shell is a grid comprising spaced parallel members or bars 20, the spaces between the same being indicated by the numeral 32. In the form of the invention shown the grid is held spaced from the rear edges of the shell by the spacing blocks 22. It will be obvious that the filing device maybe constructed with spacing blocks of various sizes so as to position the grid as desired relative to the lower edges of the shell. Any suitable means may be provided for holding the grid against movement toward the top of the shell. As shown for this purpose fiat members 23 are secured to the sides 16 and 15 on the interior thereof.

Although for brevity and convenience of reference the open side or end of the container is referred to in the description and laim as th t p pper pe t o nd s ilar terms of reference are applied toits pa ts for t P rp se of is in tion and entificat on .tl ose rd a e new bra es in a technical or limited sense since" thede i e may. vieuslv b used n ther psitions "and ifsnovelty, utility and iirvention is not confined to a particular position in use.

lVith the present invention the cards may be filed in accordance with two kinds of data. To this end two series 01" index characters are provided being disposed at righ angles to each other. Preferably, one series of characters is disposed to extend in a direction at right angles to the bars 20 0]": the grid while the other series of characters ex tends in a direction parallel with said bars. This latter series of characters is carried on the movable partitions 24: disposed within the container parallel to the first mentioned series of characters. As shown, each of the partitions 52% carries a character of the series, the tab 25 at the upper edge of the partition being provided for this purpose. If desired, two of these tabs may be positioned on opposite sides of the center of the partition. One or more of these partitions may also carry the other series of characters disposed adjacent its upper edge. Thus as shown, each of the partitions carries the characters 29 forming the series. If desired the upper edge of one of the sides such as 16 may also carry one of these latter series of characters spaced the same as on the partitions. For this purpose the characters are disposed on a strip 30 secured against the upper edge of the said side. The characters are protected by a transparent member 31 and the strip and member are held together and secured to the upper edge of the side by the channel-shaped strip 26, a suitable slot 28 being provided in this latter strip so that the characters will be visible. As shown the channel strip 26 is secured to the side in any suitable manner as by the brads 27.

It will be seen that the spaces between adjacent partitions 24- constitute compartments.

It will be noted that in the embodiment of the invention shown the longitudinal. space indicated by each of the index characters for months and days of the month terminates on the center lines of adjacent bars 32, whereby the indicating end of each card for that index character is between the ends of the indicating space and thus the fact that it is indicated by that character is unmistakable. It will be apparent, how

ever, that the invention is not limited to having the spacing or pitch of the characters equal to that of the bars providing only one transverse slot between adjacent bars for all cards indicated by the corresponding index characters, since the functions and advantages of the invention in properly spacing in series and clearly indicating the cards for each index character would be secured even with any multiple of one transverse slot included and offset from the longitudinal ends of each index space.

The present invention employs a special eas es form of card. Thus, as clearly shown in the drawings, a positioning finger projects from the lower edge of the card 33 and is adapted to be disposed in a slot 32 between the bars 20, and thus properly position the card. At its opposite or upper edge, the card is provided with an indicator. In the form shown this indicator projects above the upper edge of the card as illustrated at 34-. Preferably, the positioning finger and indicator are provided on a reinforcing strip 36 secured to the edge or the card. This strip 36 may be of metal or other suitable material and bent around the edge of the card as shown in Figure 7. In some instances it is desirable to have the indicator of different colors or forms. To this end the upper end of the binding piece 36 may be threaded as indicated at 37 and the indicator 34- provided with a ferrule internally threaded so that it may be screwed onto the upper edge of the binding strip. In this manner various forms of colored indicators 34 may be employed.

Another form of card is illustrated in Figure 6. In this modification two positioning fingers 35 and 39 project from the lower edge of the card and preferably these fingers are integral with a reinforcing strip 10 011 the bottom edge of the card, and this strip 40 may be integral with the strip 36 at the vertical edge of the card.

In employing the present invention the card 33 is filed between a pair of partitions parallel to the same and with its positioning finger 35 in a slot 32 such that will bring the indicator 34 in line with one of the charactors of the series extending parallel to the partitions. Thus the card is positioned in accordance with two kinds of data. In the form of the invention illustrated one series of characters, namely that extending perpendicular to the bars 20 consists of numbers I to 31, to represent the days of the month and also the abbreviations for the twelve months of the year.

The other series of characters is shown as the letters of the alphabet. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to either or the forms of char acter shown. With the characters shown the cards may be filed alphabetically according to the name or subject matter, for example, and also filed in accordance with the date, say the date that the matter is to be brought up for action. Thus cards coming up for action during the current month may be filed in line with any of the characters from 1 to 31. Matters coming up during future months will have their cards filed under one of the months indicated by the month characters n. Preferably, an index is slidably mounted to move along the series of charac ers 29 on the side edge of the container. is shown, this index comprises a U-shaped llil member bearing, in the present instance, a month designation, such as Jan. or Feb, having legs .1-2 straddling the channel bar 26 and a projection 4-1 struck up'f'rom the base of the U member providing the aperture 48 through which the characters of the series may be viewed. This index may bemcved along to indicate the current day of the current month and all cards in line with the index will be taken out at the beginning of each day. A similar index ll may be provided as indicated in Figure 2 and positioned at the left of the first-mentioned index so that the cards may be positioned for the days of the subsequent month up to the day corresponding to the current day of the current month. p

It will be noted that the grid in use is in fixed position in the container and serves as the support for the cards and that the facing sides of the adjacent transversely extending bars 20 form facing spaced longitudinal abutments on opposite sides of slots 82 to cooperate with a downward projection from a card thus preventing longitudinal .displacement of the cards whenin adjusted position. The longitudinal distance apart of the adjacent slots and the adjacent pairs of abutments, the length ofthe longitudinal space indicated by each of said index characters and the distance between adjacent index characters of the series constitutes in each case only a small fraction of the normal length of the well-known cards ordinarily used in card indexes. The primary purpose and function of this structural arrangementis to permit any selected set of physically similar cards to be placed in a predeter-v mined longitudinal position in the container with a visible predetermined part of each card of the set, such asiits upper end edge or an upwardly projecting indicator in the same transverse plane as other cards of the set, and to space the adjacent sets longitudinallv ofthecontainer only a small fraction of thelength of the card. those of one set partly overlapping those of a number of the next succeeding sets in the series, thus effecting a great reduction in the necessary length of the container to distinctly exhibit andidentify a given number of sets of cards. The arrangementis furthermore such that when a set of cards has been placedin adjusted position as above indicated, and held against longitudinal displacement, the said visible predetermined parts of eachcard in the set will be between the transverse planes through the ends of a space indicated by one of said longitudinally arranged index characters and thus that set will be distinct tively indicated by that character. In the parti u ar form sh n, each s o 01' p i o facing ablltlnents is between the ends of the space indicated by an index character and the predetermined distinctive visible parts of the cards are directly above them and also between said transverse planes, but it is of courseobvious that this specific form is not necessary to secure the functions and results stated. The longitudinal columns in the container, separated by partitions in the particular form shown, being indicated by indexeharacters such as letters of the alphabet carried by the partitions, in the form shown permits distinctively arranging the cards transversely in the container according to the subject matter indicated by these index characters as longitudinally in accordance with the other series of index characters. It should be noted that the structure of the container is very simple embodying few parts and none likely to get out of order and that series of simple physically identical and indistinguishable cards may with the greatest ease be placed in it in suchpositions that by this more location of a particular card in the container two characteristics of the data on that card may be determined from the index characters. In other words, the cards are distinctively classified in two respects notwithstanding the fact that they are assembeld in a minimum of space with cards of different classification in contact with each other and all are visible at one time. No special attachments to distinguish cards is-necessary since the entire operation consists merely in placing the cards in position by hand and removing them by hand when desired.

It willbe understood that although the invention has been described as'a card filing device, the term card is used to apply to any sheet muteriahenveope book or folder.

Although a specific form of the invention has been described in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not thus limited but includes modifications and changes which come withinthe scope of the append edclaims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as-new' and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is 1. A cardfilling device comprising four side pieces forming a rectangular shell and a grid of parallel spaced members'disposed within said shell in a plane substantially perpendicular to said'pieces and adjacent one end of the shell, and the upper edge of one of said pieces perpendicular to said members carrying a series of index characters. each character being positioned in alignment with a slot between said members.

2. A card filing device comprising four side pieces forminga rectangular shell and a grid of parallel spaced members disposed within said shell in a plane substantially perpendicular to said pieces and adjacent one end of the shell, and the upper edge of index movable on one of said pieces perpendicular to said members carrying a series of index characters', spaced the same as said members.

3. A card-filing device comprising a grid of parallel spaced members and a pair of parallel side pieces carrying said grid disposed perpendicularly to said members at opposite ends of the grid, and one ot said pieces carrying a series of index characters said characters being spaced a distance apart as great as the spacing of said members.

4.. A card-filing device comprising a grid of parallel spaced members and a pair of parallel side pieces carrying said grid disposed perpendicularly to said members at opposite ends of the grid, and one of said pieces carrying a series of inc characters, said characters being spaced a distance apart as great as the spacing of said members and an index movable on said character carrying piece to indicate anyone of said characters.

5. A card-tiling device comprising four s de pieces forming a rectangular shell and a grid of parallel spaced members disposed within sait shell in a plane substantially perpendicular to said pieces and adjacent one end of the shell and the front edge of one of said pieces perpendicular to said members carrying a series of index characters, spaced the same as said members and an index movable along said edge to indicate anyone of said characters.

6, A, card-tiling device comprising four de pieces forming a rectangular sh l1 and a id of parallel spaced members disposed within said shell in a plane substantially perpendicular to said pieces and adjacent one end of the shell and the front edge of one of. said pieces perpendicular to said members carrying a series of index characters, spaced. the same as said members and an said character carrying piece to indicate anyone of said characters.

7. In a cardriling device. the combination with a grid of parallel spaced members, a side piece disposed perpendicularly to said members and carrying a series of index characters spaced longitudinally thereof the space indicated by each index character terminating at each end in a plane through one of said s1 aced members, and means carrying a series of index characters which extend in a direction parallel to said members.

8. in a card-filing device, the combination with of parallel relatively stationary spaced members, a side piece disposed perpendicularly to said members and ca 'rying a series of index characters spaced longitudinally thereof the space indicated by och index character terminating at each end in a plane through one of said spaced members, partitions extending across said members and a series of index characters carried by said partitions extending in a direction parallel to said members.

9. In a card-filing device, the combination with a grid of parallel spaced members and a series of partitions extending across said members, at least one of said partitions carrying a series of index characters adja cent the outer edge spaced longitudinally thereof, the space indicated by each index character terminating at each end in a plane through the center line of one or said spaced members.

10, In a card-filing device, the combination with a grid of parallel spaced members and. a series of partitions extending across 5 l members, at least one of said partitions carrying a series of index characters adjacent the outer edge spaced a distance apart as great as the distance between the center line of the bars of said grid and each partition also carrying an index character of a series extending in a direction parallel to said members.

11. In a card-filing device, the combination with a grid of parallel spaced members artitions extending across and a series of said inen'ibers, at least one of said partitions carrying a series of index characters adjacent the outer edge spaced a distance apart as great as the distance between the center line of the bars of said grid and a series of cards, each having a finger projecting from one edge adapted to be disposed in one of the slots between said members.

12. In a card-tiling device, the combination with a grid of parllel spaced members and series of partitions extending across said members, at least one of said partitions carrying a series of index characters adjacent its outer edge spaced a distance apart as great as the distance between the center line of the bars of said grid and a series of cards, each having a finger projecting from one edge adapted to be disposed in one of the slots between said members and a second finger projecting from the opposite upper edge in transverse alignment with the space indicated by one of said index characters, when the first mentioned finger is in a slot.

A card-filing device including in combination a container comprising four side pieces and a backing, a series of index charac ers, disposed parallel to the front edge of one of the pieces and secured thereto, an index movable along said series to indicate a selected character, partitions disposed parallel to said series of characters, a second series of index characters carried by said partitions extending at right angles to the first series, and means for receiving and supporting cards between a pair of said partitions and in line with a character of the first series.

14. A card-filing device including in com- Ill) bination a container having two parallel longitudinal sides and an open top, a series of index characters spaced longitudinally of and secured along one side, the spacing or pitch of said characters being only a small fraction of the normal length of a file card, and card-engaging means extending transversely of said container at itslower portion so constructed as to make contact throughout its length with the straightline lower edges of a series of cards when said cards are arranged parallel to said sides, whether said cards overlap each other longitudinally or are arranged in transverse sets spaced longitudinally from each other, and embodying means adapted to cooperate with means on the lower part of the cards to be indexed for preventing longitudinal movements of the cards along said card-engaging means when said cards are placed in any one of a series of longitudinal positions corresponding to and indicated by said index characters and a series of similar cards having at their inner edges parts cooperating with said card-engaging means to prevent longitudinal movement thereon.

15. A card-filing device including in combination a container having two parallel longitudinal sides, two ends and an open top, a series of index characters spaced longitudinally of and secured along one side, the spacing or pitch of said characters being only a small fraction of the normal length of a file, card, and card engaging means extending transversely of said container at its lower portion so constructed as to make contact throughout its length,

' with the straight-line lower edges of a series of cards when said cards are arranged parallel to said sides, Whether said cards overlap each other longitudinally or are arranged in transverse sets spaced longitudinally from each other, and embodying means adapted to cooperate with means on the lower part oi: the cards to be indexed for preventing longitudinal movement oi the cards along said card-engaging means when said cards are placed in any one of a series of longitudinal positions with its end in a transverse plane between the ends of the space indicated by an index 'c'haracter whereby the cares indicated by that character may be easily identified in the container the index charactersextending from one end of the container to a point which is a distance from the opposite end approximately equal to the length of an ordinary known file card for use in indexes, and a series of similar cards with cooperating means at their lower edges 'to prevent longitudinal movement.

16. A card-filing device including in combination a container having .two parallel longitudinal sides and an open top, a series of index characters spaced longitudinally of and secured along oneside, the spacing or pitch of said characters being only a small fraction of the normal length of a file card, and card-engaging means extending transversely of said container at its lower portion so constructed as to make contact throughout its length with the straight-line lower edges of a series of cards when said cards are arranged parallel to said sides, whether said cards overlap each other longitudinally or are arranged in transverse sets spaced longitudinally from each other, and embodying means adapted to cooperate with means on the lower part of the cards to be indexed for preventing longitudinal movement of the cards along said card-engaging means when said cards are placed in any one of a series of longitudinal positions corresponding to and indicated by said index characters, and a series of similar cards having at their lower edges parts cooperating with said card-engaging means to prevent lon itudinal movement thereon, and longi-' tudinal partitions in said container parallel to said sides.

17. A card-filing device, including in combination, a container having two parallel longitudinal sides and an open top, a series of index characters spaced longitudinally of and secured to one side of said container, the spacing being only a small fraction of the normal length of an ordinary file card, cardengaging means extending transversely of said container at its bottom portion so constructed as to make contact engagement throughout its length with a series of cards at their straight-line lower edges when said cards are arranged parallel to the sides whether said cards are overlapped on each other longitudinally or are arranged in succeeding transverse sets, said card-engaging means including a series of ahutments spaced sufiiciently from each other to permit 'afixed projection from the edge of a card. to enter between a pair thereof, a pair of facing abutments being provided for each index character space.

1.8. A card-filing device, including in combination, a container having two parallel longitudinal sides and an open top, a series of similar cards each having a. straight-line bottom edge throughout most of its length but including a fixed projection extending therefrom, a series of index characters spaced longitudinally of and secured to one side of said container, the spacing being only a small portion of an ordinary file card, eard engaging means extending transversely of said container at its bottom portion so constructed as tomake contact engagement throughout its length with a series of cards at their straight-line lower edges when said cards are arranged parallel to the sides, whether said cards are overlapped on each other longitudinally or are arranged in succeeding transverse sets, said card-engaging means including a series of a-bntments spaced suiiiciently from each other to permit said ii 'ed projection on the bottom edges of the cards to enter between a pair thereof when a visible predetermined part of the card is in line with one of said index characters, there being a pair of facing abutments for each index character space.

19. A card-filing device including in combination a series of similar cards each having a visible part, a rectangular container with an open top adapted to receive said series of similar cards, and. carrying in fixed position a series of index characters spaced from each other longitudinally of the container and serving to indicate successive transverse planes thereof, and means carr ing; a series of index characters spaced from each other laterally of the container servin to indicate successive longitudinal columns in the container, means for supporting; said cards in vertical position in said container parallel to said longitudinal columns in predetermined longitudinal positions with said visible part of each card in a transverse plane indicated by one of said longitudinally arranged index characters.

20. A card-filing device including in combination a series of similar cards each having a visible part, a rectangular container With an open top adapted to receive said series of similar cards, a series of index characters spaced from each other longitudinally of the container and serving to indicate successive transverse planes thereof, the longitudinal space occupied and indicated by each index character and the distance between it and the next index character of the series being only a small fractional part of the length of the ordinary cards used in indexes, and means carrying a series of index characters spaced from each other laterally of the container serving to indicate successive longitudinal columns in the container, means for supporting said cards in vertical position in said container parallel to said longitudinal columns in predetermined longitudinal positions with said visible part of each card in a transverse plane indicated by one of said longitudinally arranged index characters.

21. A card-filing device including in combination a rectangular container With an open top, a series of similar cards each hav ing a projecting; indicator on one edge, a series of index characters in fixed position on said container spaced from each other longitudinally of the container and serving; to indicate successive transverse planes thereof, the longitudinal space occupied and indicated by each character and the distance between adjacent characters being only a small fractional part of the length of an ordinary file card, and a series of partitions carried by and spaced laterally of the container carrying successive index characters serving to indicate successive longitudinal columns in said container, and means for supporting said cards in said container parallel to said sides and partitions in any one of a predetermined series of longitudinal positions in said longitudinal columns with the projecting indicator on the top of each card in a transverse plane indicated by any one of said longitudinally arranged index characters.

22. A card-filing device including in combination a container carrying a series of spa ed index characters longitudinally thereof serving to indicate predetermined transverse planes of said container and mean-'5 supported by said container carrying a series of transversely spaced index characters serving to indicate longitudinal columns in said container, a series of similar cards adapted to be placed in said container and means for supporting and retaining said cards at different predeterniined longitudinal positions in said container corresponding in number to and indicated by said longitudinally extending index characters and in the different longitudinal columns thereof indicated by said transversely arranged index characters whereby the characteristics of a card called for by two index characters will be indicated by its position in the container.

23. A card-filing device including in combination a container carrying a series of spaced index characters longitudinally thereof and means supported by said container carrying a series of spaced index characters transversely thereof on a line at right angles to the line of the first mentioned series, a series of similar cards adapted to be placed in said container, means for supporting" said cards at different predetern'iined longitudinal positions throughout the length of the container parallel to the line of said firstmentioned index characters each card having a visible predetermined part which will, when that card is in one of the longitudinal positions, be in a transverse plane indicated by one of said longitudinal index characters.

24. A card-filing device comprising four Walls forming; a rectangular outer casing r shell, index characters indicating in succession the days of a month and index characters indicating the names of months spaced apart in sequence longitudinally of said shell and held in fixed positions, means for holding a plurality of cards constituting a set in any one of a predetermined series of longitudinally spaced positions in said shell corresponding in number to said index charactors and the longitudinal position of each set being indicated by one of said index Eli characters, longitudinal partitions in said shell and a series of alphabetical index characters to indicate the longitudinal column spaces produced by said partitions.

25. A card-filing device comprising four walls forming a rectangular outer casing or shell, index characters indicating in succession the days of a month and index characters indicating the names of months spaced apart in sequence longitudinally of said shell and held in fixed positions, means for holding a plurality of cards constituting a set in any one of a predetermined series of longitudinally spaced positions in said shell corresponding in number to said index characters and the longitudinal position of each set being indicated by one of said index characters, longitudinal partitions in said shell and a series of alphabetical index characters to indicate the longitudinal column spaces produced by said partitions, and an adjustable index so mounted as to be movable along said first-mentioned index char acters to proper position to distinctively designate a particular index character representing a day of the month.

26. A card-filing device comprising'tour walls forming a rectangular outer casing or shell, index characters indicating in succession the days of a month and index characters indicating the namesot months spaced apart in sequence longitudinally of said shell and held in fixed positions, means for holding a plurality of cards constituting a set in any one of a predetermined series of longitudinally spaced positions in said shell corresponding in number to said index characters and the longitudinal position of each set being indicated by one of said index characters, longitudinal partitions in said shell and a series of alphabetical index characters to indicate the longitudinal column spaces produced by said partitions and an adjustable index so mounted as to be movable along said first-mentioned index characters to proper position to distinctively designate a particular index character representing a day of the month, and a second similarly movable index adapted to be moved to position to distinctively designate a particular month.

27. A card-filing device comprising four side pieces forming a rectangular shell and a grid of parallel spaced members disposed Within said shell in a plane substantially perpendicular to said pieces and adjacent oneend of the shell, and the upper edge of one of said pieces perpendicular to said members carrying a series of index characters, each character being positioned in alignment with a slot between said members, the spaces longitudinally of the series indicated by the index characters thereof being of such length and so positioned that parallel planes through the facing side walls of the slots of the series will pass through said spaces between their ends.

28. A cardrfiling device including in combination a container having parallel sides and an open end carrying a series of spaced index characters longitudinally thereof, a transverse grid carried by said container and composed of parallel spaced members at right angles to said sides and to the line of said characters, the said grid being spaced a material distance from the open end and adapted to receive and make con tact with cards arranged longitudinally of the container from one endto the other, a series of similar cards each havin at a fixed point along one edge a distinctive part serving as an index and at a fixed point along the opposite straight line edge a projection adapted to enter a slot between said parallel members, the relative positions of said slots and index characters and the relative positions of said index andprojection on the card being such that when the projection on any card enters any slot the index on that card will be insubstantial alignment with and indicated by a predetermined one oi said index characters. a

29. A card for a card file having a positioning finger projecting from one edge and an indicator aligned therewith projecting from the opposite edge. 7

30. A card for a card file having a member secured to one of its vertical edges and projecting below the bottom edge to form a positioning finger and above the upper edge to provide an indicator.

31. A card for a card file having a member secured to one of its vertical edges and projecting below the bottom edge to form a positioning finger and above the upper edge to provide an indicator and having a part secured to the lower edge of the card carrying a downwardly projecting portion a material distance from said vertical edge in the form of a positioning finger.

32. A card for a card file having a positioning finger projecting from one edge, and an indicator projecting from the opposite edge and secured to the card in one position only.

83. A card filing device, including in combination, a case having parallel partitions extending from the bottom to the top thereof, spaced bars at the bottom of the case disposed at right angles to the length of said partitions and indices at the top of the case for designating days and months.

34. A card filing device, including in combination, a case having parallel partitions, spaced bars at the bottom of said case ex tending in a direction at right angles to said partitions, a series of index characters carried by the device extending parallel with the bars and corresponding in position with the partitions and a second series of index here i characters parallel with the partitions, said last-named characters consisting of the numbers l to 31 inclusive, to designate the days of the month.

35. A card filing device, including in combination, a case having parallel partitions, spaced bars at the bottom of said case extending in a direction at right angles to said partitions, a series of index characters :arried by the device extending parallel with the bars, and corresponding in position with the partitions and a second series of index characters parallel with the partitions, said last-named characters consisting of the numto 31, inclusive, to designate the days of the month, and a tab adjustably associated with said numbers and carrying the name of a month.

36. A card-filing device, including in combination, a case having parallel partitions, spaced bars at the bottom of the case extending in a direction at right angles to said partitions, two series of index characters, one carried by the device extending parallel to the be and corresponding in position with the partitions and the other parallel to the partitions and a plurality of cards, each having a linger adapted to be positioned in space between said bars.

37. A card-filing device, including in combination, a case having compartments designated by letters of the alphabet, an index disposed parallel to said compartments, comprising the numbers of the days of the month, and an additional index forming a continuation of said index consisting of the months of the year.

38. A card-filing device, including in combination, a case having parallel compartments, each compartment being designated by a letter of the alphabet, spaced bars at the bottom of the case extending across the compartments and a series of datedesignating numbers and names of months for indi cating the spaces between the bars.

39. A card-filing device, including in combination, a case having spaced parallel bars at the bottom thereof, the spaces between the same being designated by different numbers corresponding with the days of the month, supplemental bars parallel with the firstmentioned bars, the spaces between the same being designated by months of the year, and transverse partitions each indicated by a letter of the alphabet.

A. card-filing device, including in combination, a case having spaced parallel bars at the bottom thereof, the spaces between the same being designated by different numbers corresponding with the days of the month, supplemental bars parallel with the firstmentioned bars, the spaces between the same being designated by months of the year, transverse partitions each indicated by a letter of the alphabet, and month-designating tabs adjustably associated with the day-indicating numbers.

41. .A card-filing device, including in combination, a plurality of spaced parallel bars, partitions extending across said bars, said device having a series of index characters spaced in accordance with the spacing of the bars, and a second series of index characters carried by the device extending in a direction parallel to said bars and corresponding in position with the partitions.

A card-filing device, including in combination, a grid of spaced parallel bars, a pair of side members supporting said grid, one oi said members being provided with a series of index characters each designating a space between two grid bars, and a series of cards each having an indicator and a positioning linger adapted to lit in the spaces between said grid bars.

4.3. A card-filing device, including in combination, a grid of spaced parallel bars, a. pair of side members supporting said grid, one of said members being provided with a series of index characters each vertically above a space between two grid bars, and a series of cards each having aligned with a vertical edge thereof an indicator and a po sitioning linger, said positioning finger adapted to tit between any two adjacent grid bars and align the indicator with a chosen index character.

44;. A card-filing device, including in combination, a grid of spaced parallel bars, side members supporting said grid, one of said members being provided on its upper edge with a series of index characters each designating space between two grid bars, and an inverted U-shaped index slidable along said indexed member.

15. A card filing device, including in combination, a grid of spaced parallel bars, side members supporting said grid, one of said members being provided on its upper edge with a series of index characters each designating a space between two adjacent grid bars, and an inverted Ushaped index slidable along said indexed member having a tab struck up from the base of said index forming an aperture through which an index character may be viewed.

46. A card filing device, including in combination, a grid of spaced parallel bars, a pair of parallel side members supporting said grid disposed perpendicular to said bars at opposite ends thereof, a partition member parallel to said side members and movable to various positions therebetween, and index characters on said partition member, each designating the space between two adjacent grid bars.

47. A card filing device, including in combination, a grid of spaced parallel bars, a pair of parallel side members supporting said grid disposed perpendicular to said bars at opposite ends thereof, a partition member parallel to said side members and movable to any position therebetween, index characters on said partition member, each designating a space between two adjacent grid bars, and a series of filing cards each a fraction of the length of said side members and having an indicator projecting above the upper edge and a positioning finger projecting from the bottom edge, said finger being adapted to fit between the bars of the grid and locate the indicator with respect to a selected index character.

48. In a card filing device, in combination, a series of filing cards, a filing tray having a width a multiple of the length of said cards, a grid near the bottom of said tray, said grid being composed of spaced parallel bars, the spacing of the bars being a fraction of the length of a card, and means on said cards to position them with a vertical edge in alignment with aspace between two grid bars.

49. In a card filing device, in combination, a series of filing cards, a filing tray having a width a multiple of the length of a card, a grid near the bottom of said tray, said grid being composed of spaced parallel bars, the spacing of the bars being a fraction of the length of a card, index characters in vertical alignment above the spaces between the grid bars, and positioning fingers on said cards adapted to fit between said bars to position said cards in desired relation to one of the index characters.

50. A card filing device, including in combination, a grid of parallel spaced members, side pieces supporting said grid, a member slidable lengthwise of said grid and carrying a series of index characters spaced a distance as great as the spacing of said grid members.

51. Acard filing device, including in combination, a case having parallel partitions, spaced bars at the bottom of said case extending in a direction at right angles to said partitions, and a series of index characters carried by the device extending parallel with the bars and corresponding in position with the partitions, the length of the partitions being greater by multiples of the bar spacings than of the length of the cards being filed. 52. A card for a card file having a member secured to one of its vertical edges and projecting below the bottom edge to form a positioning finger.

A filing unit comprising a card, means reinforcing a vertical edge thereof, and an upward projection on said reinforcing means forming an indicator.

54. A filing unit comprising a card, means reinforcing a vertical edge thereof, said reinforcing means extending beyond the upper edge of the card to form an indicator and below the lower edge to form a positioning finger.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

RITTENHOUSE M. SMITH. 

